Members of the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA) have come up with a way to get word out that downtown Ballston Spa is an artsy, eclectic place to hang out.

This week, members of the association announced their spring/summer marketing promotion campaign for 2008, called Ballston Rocks.

"The campaign will promote the village's vibrant and friendly ambiance with its unique shops, restaurants and galleries," said BSBPA president Cliff Baum. "There are also attractions and events held during the spring and summer months, including free outdoor concerts and movies, that we want to let people know about well in advance."

To get this seasonal promotion really shaking, the BSBPA is organizing an Adirondack rocking chair sponsorship and painting contest.

The BSBPA will offer cedar rocking chairs to businesses, organizations, individuals and families to purchase and decorate. Participants are encouraged to go wild with their decorating. If an Adirondack chair doesn't get your artistic abilities moving, you can purchase one for a school class or community group to decorate, or the BSBPA can refer you to a local artist interested in a commission for turning the chair into a work of art.

Once completed, the decorated rocking chairs will be placed around the village in the days leading up to Memorial Day weekend.

"We invite people to look at, sit in and enjoy the chairs all summer," said Baum. "We want to see people rocking all over town."

There will also be a friendly competition and judging of the rockers for their artistic and creative merits. At the end of the summer, chairs can be reclaimed by sponsors or donated to the BSBPA for an auction to be held Labor Day weekend. The proceeds will go to support public BSBPA local activities such as Concerts in the Park, The Ballston Spa Film Festival and the Adopt-a-Plot program. All donations are tax deductible.